The black-backed jackals of Africa look a lot like our coyotes. They are known as opportunistic omnivores. They hunt smaller mammals, but more often than not, they scavenge the kills of lions and other cats. I photographed this guy as the sun was setting on the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.
This is an Atlantic ghost crab doing what Atlantic ghost crabs do — excavating a new home in the sand. These guys were quite common on the beach in Barbados. Their constant activity gave me something to do rather than just lying in the sun all day. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/1250th of a second.
A coati emerges from the vegetation in Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica. And gives us a nice look at that characteristic snout by looking both ways before crossing a trail. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO 3200, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.
Willow ptarmigan are ground-dwelling birds that range throughout the world’s northern regions. Like snowshoe hares and arctic fox, they adapt to their snowy environment by turning completely white in the winter months. As you can see from the bottom photo, this provides them great camouflage amidst the snow and willows where they spend the majority of their time. I photographed these ptarmigan in northern Manitoba, Canada while out searching for polar bears. Top photo: Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/5 at 1/200th of a second. Bottom photo: Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.
I usually try to capture some detail, even in silhouettes, but this image of a cheetah and termite mound seemed to call for the full black out of the subject against the twilight sky. Photographed in the Linyanti concession of Botswana. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/200th of a second.
Wildebeest don’t get a lot of respect. I myself rarely post this most ubiquitous of savanna grazers. Time to change that. This is the blue wildebeest, also known as the white-bearded wildebeest, common wildebeest or brindled gnu. To predators like lions, leopards, hyenas and cheetah, they are also known as dinner. I photographed this one in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve of Botswana. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.
Now that Game of Thrones is back and in full swing, thought I’d post a dragon. Not exactly as fierce as the beasts flying above Westeros, but a rather impressive specimen nonetheless. Meet the Boyd’s water dragon. Also known as Boyd’s forest dragon. They grow to be about two feet in length. This one was spotted in Daintree National Park in Queensland, Australia. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 100, f/5 at .8 of a second.
My mother’s dog Rogan (RIP Rogan) used to sit like this and we would call it the frogger position. We like to anthropomorphize animals like that (attribute human characteristics). But since being a dog owner myself, I can’t help also seeing canine features in other animals — be it the face of a seal, the muzzle of a lion, or the resting position of a polar bear. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 360mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/320th of a second.
The Baird’s tapir is the largest land mammal in Central America. They are classified as endangered and vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss and poaching. The death of even a single tapir is significant because they reproduce so slowly. The gestation period for a female is more than 400 days, after which a single baby is born. Multiple births are extremely rare. This large male tapir was foraging on the forest floor in Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 3200, f/2.8 at 1/100th of a second.
A great blue heron bearing a gift — a stick to reinforce the nest. Photographed in Venice, Florida. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 210mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/2500th of a second.